I was wondering about how to unlock phones and flash them so they work perfectly on any service provider that uses CDMA phones. Right now i use virgin mobile and i have an optimus v. It's an alright phone but i thought about buying something much more elaborate from Verizon or Sprint, etc.
Is there a specific way i can buy one of these phones, unlock it and make it work with my current number and plan from Virgin Mobile without contacting them or even letting them know i've done it. I'm not sure if they allow such things or not.
Related
I do a lot of HTC device hacking and unlocking, but have never done a CDMA device. Is it possible to unlock the XV6700 and use it on another USA CDMA Carrier? Also, I presume there are other ROM's to install on this device? Any guidance would help a lot.
Albatros
CDMA devices aren't actually locked per se, the device itself will work great with any CDMA network u tell it to work with as long as the service provider agrees to register your device in their ESN database. In other words all phones released by verizon have ESNs specific to verizon and all sprint phones have ESNs from sprint's database. The providers share the ESN data and know when a phone you're trying to register with them is not one of theirs. So it really comes down to your service provider agreeing to register your phone in their database (which is most likely not going to happen unless you have connections). The other and not so legal way of doing this is to clone the ESN of your old phone (which you can just throw away) and download a new prl (preffered roaming list: tells the phone which towers to prioritize) to your new phone. So it IS possible but illegal due to the ability to copy somebody's esn and charge up their bill. Hope this helps!
this might not be for cricket but its a start
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=20090
Yes, CDMA Devices aren't locked like GSM Devices. You will need to have Cricket register the ESN (Electronic Serial Number) in their database. I have family who has done it and have worked with a guy who got a 6700 ESN changed over to Cricket.
Need to go from Cricket BACK to Verizon
I have the opposite problem - bought a used VX6700 that is already on the Cricket network, but I am on a Verizon plan (yes I was a doofuss and get my old Verizon phone wet, but it was locked LG crap anyway with no option for customizing - so GLAD to be coming back to the HTC world!)
Whenever I dial *228 to get it programmed, it says "welcome to Cricket". The Verizon 800# tech people had no clue how to get it back, even after they had me try a few unusual settings in the phone. Then they sent me to the Verizon store - they said they could not do anything, no real explanation why not. The used store I bought it from thinks they could try to reflash it - but I'm not so sure that is really necessary.
I have successfully flashed my old HTC Wizard for practice - so I know sort of what I am doing if flashing IS needed. Just hard to find information even after doing a lot of searching. There are a few threads on going from Verizon to Cricket -- but none for how to get BACK.
Thanks in advance.
Update
The phone guru guy at the Phone Smart store I bought the used phone from was able to get it back onto Verizon for me. He said something about modifying the PRN Provide Roaming Number - or at least I think that was the one - so that Verizon's towers would know to look for this phone now. So all good for now. I need to get WM6 on it soon though! Currently it is on a slightly enhanced build of WM5.
My buddy gave me a brand new HTC Touch Pro2. He is on the Sprint network but I am on the Verizon network. I would like to unlock this phone and use it for verizon. I really need help with this and don't know how to do it. Can someone help me out ?
your friend wouldnt happen to this guy, would he? lol
anyway, technically theres nothing that needs to be done to "unlock" a sprint phone to use on verizon, but as a matter of policy verizon wont activated devices from a different network
well i have been told by several people that i have to unlock it. one of them actually use to work for verizon. but no that is not my friend lol.
Verizon checks the phone esn which is the cell phone equivalent of a vehicle's vin. They only allow their own phones on their network. There is no "unlock" needed, they simply won't do it and beyond faking the esn which is illegal, there is nothing you can do to get them to activate it.
actually there is a way, and some verizon reps also add esn to their bases, and yes you need a unlock code which only sprint will give, with which you can change some things, but i dont have detailed info, but ppcgeeks has some more info on it.
if you mean the MSL number you can get that using getSPC (although im not sure it would even be needed) but it still doesnt matter as its unlikely your going to get VZW to activate the phone unless you have a friend who can add the ESN, as a matter of policy they wont do it
So bottom line, can I or can I not do this. Is it impossible or what? . .
If so I am just going to sell this brand new phone and buy a verizon one.
Right now I have an HTC Evo running on the Sprint network. I purchased an iPhone 4s (Verizon) from a friend that has a good ESN. I was hoping i would be able to flash the phone and merrily be on my way to using the phone on the Sprint network. After some researching it doesn't look like that is going to happen since the stingy bastards who own mobile phone companies will not accept ESN's from other carriers. Although, i did read on some old forums that companies were required to let the phone operate on their system if the ESN was good. Is this true? Is that a law? Do they have to let my phone operate on their system or is there any way i could get Sprint to make it work?
Answers are greatly appreciated as i would love to use my new phone on the Sprint network. :laugh:
Today I went to unlock my Sprint LG G Flex 2 after paying it off. Sprint gave me a code (In a form of ##xxxxxx#) to put in via the dialer, but it did not unlock the phone. They are telling me to go to a 3rd party company to unlock it, but I am wondering what you guys think. I know there is quite a few software loopholes that some people have used on the G3 to unlock it, and I am wondering if any exist with the G Flex 2. Heres whats going on
With a Sprint sim the phone stays on Sprint and works no problem
With a Verizon sim it will use the Verizon voice network but it does not get data
With an ATT Sim it goes between "Service Disabled" and 4 bars, but will not make a call or send a text.
With a MetroPCS sim it will not call, text, and stays at service disabled
With a PTel sim it stays at service disabled
From what it looks like to me the phone is not GSM unlocked. Is there any way I can unlock it for GSM use. I know some bands wont be picked up, but I would like to use it on ATT 3G when im out in the countryside where Sprint doesn't have service. From what I know of since the Feb. 11 revision of laws for unlocking devices if the device is in good standing and paid off/contract expired the carrier is supposed to unlock it, but there method is not working for GSM use. I am wondering if anyone knows a way to get there code to work or a software loophole to unlock the SIM slot for GSM use. I am guessing that the phone is receiving att and Metro service because the split second before it goes to service disabled it gets 4 bars and the phone recognizes my phone number. My ATT and Metro APN settings are programmed in already in the roaming area, but there is not an APN settings input in the mobile networks category.
If anyone knows how and if this phone can be unlocked to work with GSM service it would be a great help.
Thanks
Jake
Also, when I use the the Available GSM networks feature under "Roaming>Avalable GSM networks" it always comes up wit "Error searching for networks"
The phone is rooted, could I use unlocking methods from the G3? How much of a risk would I be taking by using methods sourced from another LG phone? To expand upon that I would attempt using methods proven with the g3 or original g flex to try and get it to start running on gsm, I did submit a domestic and international unlock to sprint but all they gave me was a useless MSL code. I need to get this working on at&t or I will have to sell this wonderful phone.
As far as I know they will only unlock it for a Sprint customer who has the line active for 90 days. Unless something is different on the Flex 2 there is no code to enter, I unlocked my HTC One M8 before swapping to the Flex 2 and everything was done on there end. Additionally they state the unlock is only for international use and will not unlock the phone for US carriers although I cant verify if that is true as I don't have a US SIM card to try.
uh60james said:
As far as I know they will only unlock it for a Sprint customer who has the line active for 90 days. Unless something is different on the Flex 2 there is no code to enter, I unlocked my HTC One M8 before swapping to the Flex 2 and everything was done on there end. Additionally they state the unlock is only for international use and will not unlock the phone for US carriers although I cant verify if that is true as I don't have a US SIM card to try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is fully paid off, it was used for less than a month. In the USA there is a law that was passed on February 11th 2015 stating that all carriers must be able to unlock there phones for domestic service (DSU) as far as I know sprint does not seem to follow that, and makes it dang hard to do anything. I was able to get texts working, and data, but I cannot call or receive mms, anyone have any ideas on why that might be. I would like to try and get both working, and I will put in the work for going into the root and trying to get the bands unlocked for AT&T, if anyone can confirm that it is not a gigantic threat to the phone by attempting it, I would make a backup before, but my last experience with a Verizon S3 + Easy unlocker bricked my phone, and although I got it recovered it was no fun.
Rooted...
You stated that the phone is rooted, was the phone rooted when you attempted the unlock? If so, I would suggest restoring the phone to fully stock via the files supplied by Malxce and method described in cairui505's thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/g-flex2/help/ls996-tot-t3094660
I have used it and it works great. After that I would attempt the unlock as Sprint suggested and follow any further problems with Sprint tier 2 technical support. I'm sorry, I don't have the number handy but I'm sure Google will assist. Tier 2 support has a great deal more knowledge and capability than the store or tier 1 personnel. You are correct that they are required by law to unlock the phone at the users request but they will not make it easy and unlocking the phone doesn't change it's hardware capabilities. I'm just not sure if there is an underlying and limiting hardware difference between the carriers versions that would prevent proper activation on another carrier. The law requires that they unlock the unit, not include the hardware to port to other networks.
How would the phone being rooted stop it from being unlocked? I ask because I bought a used phone from ebay that's already internationally unlocked, I've been given the msl code multiple times by tech support, and as I've just discovered it's been rooted.
So like the title says I have a brand new never started/updated t-mobile s7 and I'm looking to use the phone on the Verizon network where I currently have a plan.
I've never unlocked SIMs before so I figured I'd check here first, I don't want to brick the phone obviously..
So my question is how do I go about doing this? I see t-mobile has an app that unblocks the SIM for customers, however I'm not a customer and do not plan on using t-mobile network.
I found some dodgy websites that claim to be able to do it but I'm not sure how I feel about handling over my information to them especially without at least some third party confirmation that the service actually works and is not a scam.
Does anyone have some input on what to do?
Flash the 930U firmware to it. This should allow it to be SIM unlocked.
Try calling tm you just never know they may just give you the unlock codes. I had a phone lock to att once, gave them a ring and they gave me the codes, just be nice.
I used the tmobile unlock app on device. The app checks if you qualify same as a rep would.
Sent from my SM-G930T using XDA-Developers mobile app
So I got the phone unlocked but only to find out the T-Mobile s7 is GSM, Verizon runs on CDMA which is not compatible.
Now that I have it unlocked, would it be possible to flash the Verizon s7 software and have it connect?
I assume I'll need to root the phone in order to do that but will the hardware interact properly with the Verizon software?
2003WRB said:
So I got the phone unlocked but only to find out the T-Mobile s7 is GSM, Verizon runs on CDMA which is not compatible.
Now that I have it unlocked, would it be possible to flash the Verizon s7 software and have it connect?
I assume I'll need to root the phone in order to do that but will the hardware interact properly with the Verizon software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CDMA and GSM are two different frequency bands, and use separate hardware. Meaning, they are physically not compatible.
2003WRB said:
So I got the phone unlocked but only to find out the T-Mobile s7 is GSM, Verizon runs on CDMA which is not compatible.
Now that I have it unlocked, would it be possible to flash the Verizon s7 software and have it connect?
I assume I'll need to root the phone in order to do that but will the hardware interact properly with the Verizon software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The good news for you is that the S7 sold in the United States all contain the same hardware, the same actual components, so they all physically are capable of handling both GSM and CDMA networks. Also good for you is that now that the phone is unlocked, you can either flash the Verizon firmware or flash the "U" firmware on your device. Normally speaking, this would be really bad advice for any other device, but for the S7 it is possible.
I have the T-Mo S7 flat, and I am running the latest U firmware on AT&T, though I have flashed many and sold them for Verizon.
Don't fret, be happy, and Merry Christmas!
will this allow lte+,in order words can I make a call and still browse the internet on verizon?